News about Faculty & Staff

Students bring societal crisis down to personal level

Applied human services majors LaTricia M. Scutching (left), of Plymouth Meeting, and Estee E. McLaughlin, of Muncy, stand before a treeful of encouraging and motivational messages.

Seth Fredericks, a certified recovery specialist with the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, shares his personal journey and his professional experience.

Student organizers, in T-shirts of advocacy and outreach, command the floor.

Morgan L. Keller, of Shermans Dale, invited mother Stacy to the event that her class so diligently planned.

Among the presenters is Lycoming County President Judge Nancy L. Butts, who, with her colleagues on the bench, effects a coordinated court response.

Human services students at Penn College collaborated on a successful opioid awareness event Saturday night in Penn’s Inn, invoking positivity and compassion in helping the community understand dependency’s insidious impact. PCT HOPE, organized by the Service Learning in Sociology class in cooperation with the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, aimed to “Help Open People’s Eyes” through accessibility and lack of judgment. “I feel we succeeded at spreading awareness, hope and empathy in a unique way that I don’t think has been attempted here in Williamsport before,” applied human services major Jernae A. Drummond said. DJ Choices (Bryon Carey, a board-certified recovery specialist) donated his time to the effort; Lycoming College alumna Kaitlin Lunger screened “No Limits, No Boundaries,” her documentary about three local individuals – a recovering addict, an addict’s daughter and a Williamsport Bureau of Police officer – dealing with opioid abuse; and the class presented an interactive exhibit that put a human face on addiction and its scope. “I thought the students did a fantastic job,” said D. Robert Cooley, associate professor of anthropology/environmental science. “The event was polished, flowed well, and did a great job of engaging visitors with resources, information and personal stories on the part of the presenters.”
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer

Community Challenge raises $17,000-plus for Salvation Army

Some of the 45 Penn College participants (whether running, walking or volunteering) gather for a pre-event photo.

And … they’re off!

Penn College-crafted ceramic trophies and ornaments await the winners.

On what Reed described as a "cool, muddy, beautiful November day," participants traverse the scenic locale.

Penn College Police Officer Justin M. Hakes takes on the 10K.

For the second year in a row, Penn College won the Community Cup at Saturday’s Community Challenge. Better news: the event raised over $17,000 to benefit the Salvation Army of Williamsport. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Community Challenge goes directly to the local Salvation Army’s efforts to aid approximately 400 families a month in Lycoming County. Held on the Williamsport Water Authority’s watershed outside DuBoistown, the Community Challenge featured 5K, 10K and half-marathon trail races, with 265 competitors finishing. Penn College’s 45-member team of runners, walkers and volunteers – including students, employees and family members – was enough people power to secure the Community Cup, a traveling trophy presented to the organization with the greatest participation. “It was an exhausting and wonderful weekend,” said Michael J. Reed, an active event organizer who also serves as dean of the college’s School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications and vice chairman and chair of PR/special events for the Salvation Army of Williamsport’s Board of Directors. Also at the Community Challenge, a Salvation Army truck was on site to collect gently used winter coats, hats and gloves. For the second year, Penn College ceramics instructors David A. and Deborah L. Stabley crafted Community Challenge race awards in the form of ceramic trophies and holiday ornaments.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer

This week’s makerspace topic: the serger

SergerLearn how to use a serger in this week’s training at The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College, scheduled from 5-6 p.m. Thursday in Room 104 of the Carl Building Technologies Center. A serger is a sewing machine that uses several threads at one time to sew a seam, while simultaneously trimming and finishing the raw edges. No reservations are required for the open makerspace sessions, which run through Nov. 15.

Penn College Welcomes New Employee

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

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Penn College student ‘constructs’ his future at K’NEX

Thomas Proske

Some people spend a lifetime searching for that elusive “dream job.” Thomas Proske spent a summer experiencing his, thanks to an internship at a prominent toy maker.

The Pennsylvania College of Technology industrial design student worked on the design team at K’NEX in Hatfield. A division of Basic Fun, K’NEX is the maker of iconic construction toys pieced together by colorful, interlocking plastic components.

“It was pretty much, ‘Here, go make stuff,’” said Proske, a sophomore from Laceyville. “I didn’t know that they were going to sit me down and have me build all day. It was such an awesome job.”

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A grateful campus salutes its veterans

Penn College's military family honored for Veterans Day

On this Veterans Day weekend, PCToday honors the Penn College students, faculty and staff who have served (or continue to serve) the United States.

Members of the campus community are encouraged to join in gratitude for the service of these classmates and co-workers, who are among those we recognize through this voluntary roster.

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Volunteer recognized by YWCA for passionate service to area food bank

Marianne E. DePasqua

Marianne E. DePasqua, client development specialist for Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Pennsylvania College of Technology, is among the eight newest inductees into the YWCA Northcentral Pennsylvania’s Women of Excellence program.

“Marianne lends her talent, heart and hands to improve the lives of families who are suffering the despair of limited or no access to reliable food sources,” said Shannon M. Munro, the college’s vice president for workforce development, in nominating her co-worker for the Class of 2018. “Because of her extensive social media network, she’s been able to bring a new level of awareness to the serious issue of hunger and to the programs available through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.”

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Penn College student updates iconic Maya calendar converter

For his senior project at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Ethan M. Yoder, a software development and information management student from Denver, Lancaster County, is updating an iconic Maya calendar converter program.

Archaeologists traversing the ruins and rainforests of Mexico and Central America to unearth clues about the Maya culture have an ally more than 3,000 miles away at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

And he doesn’t even own a shovel.

From the comfort of a campus computer lab, Ethan M. Yoder digs deeply into his expertise to modernize a valuable tool that helps researchers assign historical context to discoveries. The software development and information management student is updating the iconic “bars and dots” Maya calendar converter for his senior project.

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A lion’s share of knowledge

Tape measure at the ready, Andrew R. Hurd, a building construction technology student from Spring Mills, assesses a visitor's block-laying performance.

Luse shares pointers with Julia R. Straub, a Penn State student well-acquainted with construction through her family's experience in the field. "I've been playing with plumbing since I was 8," she said, "but they never let me do the dirty work." Until now, that is!

Highly visible in neon T-shirts, building construction technology majors Ian R. Myers (left), of Morrisdale, and James G. Vile Jr., of Sheffield, supervise several courses of brickwork.

Keith C. Long, of Pitman, leads Penn State students through a longstanding crowd-pleaser: archway construction. Long is enrolled in building construction technology: masonry emphasis.

More than 30 landscape architecture students of David Goldberg and Marc Miller, assistant professors in Penn State’s Stuckeman School, visited the Construction Masonry Building on Thursday. The day’s guests received hands-on instruction in a variety of technique and materials, circulating among work stations and mentored by adept Penn College construction students. Instructors Robert P. Gresko and Glenn R. Luse rotated along with them, sharing encouragement and expertise, and industry supporters aided the cause – including Spec Mix, which is also supplying mortar for the nearby expansion of welding labs. Architecture majors from University Park visit the college’s School of Construction & Design Technologies twice a year, getting practical exposure to the craft involved in bringing their visionary plans into focus.

Silenced voices echo through survivor’s search for ‘normal’

The emergency management technology student fields a question from the audience.

An emergency management technology major who is a survivor of last year’s Las Vegas shooting shared her story with fellow Pennsylvania College of Technology students and faculty Monday night in the Student & Administrative Services Center’s Presentation Room.

Emergency management, human services, nursing and emergency medical services/paramedic students were among those who listened intently and respectfully to Robyn N. Wolfe’s harrowing story. Her husband, William “Bill” Wolfe Jr., was the sole Pennsylvania fatality in the horrific mass shooting that claimed 58 lives and injured more than 800 people.

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Human services students see firsthand example of civic impact

Human services students and their chaperones gather outside the Hazleton One Community Center.

Human services students and faculty engaged in an enlightening educational outing on Friday with a visit to the Hazleton One Community Center, which was launched by Hazleton native and beloved Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon.

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Penn College welcomes new employees

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

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Penn College hosting ‘SWORD’ fights

Combat robots compete at Penn College’s Field House in a Fall 2017 event. The competition, sponsored by Student Wildcats of Robotic Design Club, returns Nov. 17 as SWORD Fall Fights 2018.

Pennsylvania College of Technology will feature battles of ingenuity later this month when it hosts SWORD Fall Fights 2018.

Approximately 50 combat robots will “fight” in the double-elimination tournament that is open to the public. Trophies and gift certificates will be awarded to the top three finishers in the 1- and 3-pound weight classes.

The event is scheduled for the college’s Field House on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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High Steel opens plant to engineering design students

Tomassacci accompanies students on a recent visit to High Steel Structures Inc.

Walker (second from right) and engineering design students benefit from the college's proximity to one of the nation's biggest steel fabricators.

Penn College engineering design technology students enrolled in the Technical Drawing-Related Disciplines course experienced examples of structural fabrication and design, thanks to a recent field trip to High Steel Structures Inc. in Williamsport. Located along Fourth Street, west of campus, High Steel is one of the largest structural steel fabricators in the country. The company has fabricated more than 1 million tons of structural steel during the past 20 years. Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of engineering design technology, and Kendra N. Tomassacci, instructor of engineering design technology, accompanied 33 of their students. “It was an awesome trip,” Walker said. “We are very fortunate that our local employers provide opportunities to visit their facilities. It is very beneficial for students to connect their classroom experience to real-world applications.”
Photos provided

Employee campaign puts the ‘you’ in LCUW

DePasqua (in Santa hat) and Karen P. Fessler, the college's director of procurement services, aid the food bank's holiday distribution.

Construction management students contributed a record-setting effort this semester, packing 970 boxes for the agency’s Military Share program.

Helpful college employees turn out to improve the lives of their neighbors.

Penn College faculty and staff annually provide much-needed financial support to the Lycoming County United Way and the local agencies that it assists. To illuminate the latest campaign (which began Monday and runs through Nov. 16), PCToday is profiling employees who volunteer their time with nonprofits that directly benefit from donors’ generosity. This initial post spotlights the work done by Marianne E. DePasqua, client development specialist at Workforce Development & Continuing Education, on behalf of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

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